Pull-tight one-piece security seal, adapted for the closure of bags or the like

ABSTRACT

A one-piece pull-tight or strap-type security seal adapted for closing bags or the like that is designed to be easily applied in comparison with existing ones. One seal of this type has a lever operation in which a closure strap ( 4 ) is integral with a central or operating portion ( 2 ) that is, its turn, integral with a lever member ( 6 ) to which the strap may be fixed during application around the neck of a bag to be closed. The lever member is then pivoted outwardly and backwardly over the operating portion, tightening the loop so formed by means of a lever action, and then locked by security locking formations ( 16, 19 ) to effect sealing. According to the invention, the closure strap is for all effects flat, its formations for fixing it to the lever member ( 6 ) comprising a series of orifices ( 7 ) distributed along its length, whereas the immobilising formation for the closure strap comprises a first protuberance ( 15 ) adapted, on formation of the loop ( 25 ), to be received in one of the said orifices ( 7 ). The operating member ( 2 ) may be provided with an elastic hook ( 24 ) that, in the closed position of the seal, passes through another of the orifices ( 7 ) in the closure strap so as to maintain the seal closed even if the locking formations are damaged or broken. A separate seal ( 26 ) is also described, in one embodiment, so as to permit uses of the one-piece seal ( 1 ) after the first use when the security locking formations  816, 19 ) have already been damaged or broken.

[0001] The present invention refers to a pull-tight or strap-typesecurity seal, adapted for the closure of bags or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] Pull-tight or strap-type security seals that are speciallysuitable for the closure of the neck or mouth of bags and the like arealready known. Such type of seal is better exemplified by that disclosedand illustrated in Brazilian Patent PI8100037 and its correspondingCanadian Patent 1,222,131. This known seal comprises an operatingportion integral, at its two ends, with a closure strap and a levermember. The lever member is foldable over the operating member and canbe locked in this position by locking formations on the respectiveportions. The closure strap comprises a thread having a series of ball-or sphere-type formations along its length. During placement of theseal, the strap is passed around the neck of the bag to be closed andsealed, forming a loop. It is then passed through a guide slot in theoperating portion to guide it to the lever member where it is insertedthrough a keyhole opening in the lever member. The seal is then manuallytightened to close the neck of the bag and the length of the loop thustightened is determined by manipulating the strap so that the part ofthe strap that remains between ball-type formations Is fitted into thenarrow part of the keyhole opening. This operation requires some skillby the user, especially since the ball-type formations have to besuitably manipulated for them to pass through the guide slot.

[0003] The seal of Brazilian Patent PI8100037 is then closed by foldingthe lever member outwardly and backwardly over the operating portion,this further tightening the loop with a minimum of manual effort, andpressing it against the operating portion to engage a security closuremechanism, part of the closure strap then being hidden and inaccessiblefrom the outside since it lies between the lever member and theoperating portion. Once more, the fatc that there are ball-typeformations on the closure strap results in a relatively bulky closuredevice.

[0004] The seal is opened by cutting the closure strap and it is thusinutilised. It is therefore of necessity a throw-away type.

[0005] For these and other reasons security seals of the type inquestion are difficult to apply and have not met with much success onthe market.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0006] The main object of the present invention is to overcome theinconveniences indicated above by means of a pull-tight security seal,be it one-piece or not, that is easy to apply without prejudicing thesecurity of the closure.

[0007] Another object of this invention is to make it possible to re-usea seal of this type, after a first use, as a simple non-securitypull-tight or strap-type closure device.

[0008] A further object of the invention is to make it possible tore-use the seal, still as a security seal but together with the a smalladditional security seal.

BRIEF DEFINITION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0009] According to the present invention a security seal of the abovetype has a closure strap that is substantially planar, its lockingformations comprising a series of orifices distributed along its length,whereas the formation for immobilising the strap on the lever membercomprises a first protuberance which, when the loop is formed, isadapted to be received in one of such orifices.

[0010] Preferably, the said first protuberance includes a hook which,when the loop is formed, passes through said orifice and engages thesurface of the strap facing away from the operating portion.

[0011] The security locking formation on the lever member advantageouslycomprises a second protuberance in the form of a locking tooth adaptedtop pass through another of the orifices in the closure strap, and thecorresponding locking formation on the operating portion comprises acavity adapted to receive such locking tooth em locking relationshipwhen the seal is closed.

[0012] The locking tooth, in the preferred embodiment of the invention,has a base fixed to the lever member, which is weakened so as to breakwhen the seal is intentionally opened, leaving a corresponding openingin the lever member. This greatly facilitates the authorised opening ofthe seal.

[0013] In order to make the seal re-usable, but still as a securityseal, it may be used in combination with a separate seal to seal itduring uses subsequent to the first use, when the said locking tooth hasalready been broken. In accordance with this aspect of the inv nton, theseparate security seal comprises a plate to be placed over the levermember when the seal is in the closed configuration for subsequent uses,and a protuberance in the form of a locking tooth substantiallyidentical to the locking tooth that was broken, the locking tooth on theseparate security seal also having a weakened base that can be broken onsubsequent opening of the original seal.

[0014] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the operatingportion of the seal has an elastic locking tooth adapted, in the closedconfiguration of the seal, to pass through one of the orifices in theclosure strap and engage the strap so as to maintain the seal closed,this one-piece seal thus being suitable for use as a simple closuredevice without any security characteristics, after the locking tooth onthe lever member has been broken.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The invention will be better understood from the followingdescription, given by way of example, of presently preferredembodiments, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

[0016]FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of a pull-tight or strap typeone-piece security seal, according to amp-referred embodiment of thisinvention;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a lower perspective view of the seal illustrated in FIG.1;

[0018]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the same seal at the moment ofclosure;

[0019]FIG. 4 is an upper perspective view of a special seal to be usedon a subsequent use of the seal illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3;

[0020]FIG. 5 is a lower perspective view of the special seal illustratedin FIG. 4;

[0021]FIG. 6 shows, in perspective, the act of sealing closure of theseal of FIGS. 1 to 3, when it is re-used with employment of the specialseal of FIGS. 4 and 5;

[0022]FIG. 7 shows the seal of FIGS. 1 to 3 already closed and sealedwith the seal of FIGS. 4 and 5;

[0023]FIG. 8 is an upper perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, showing asecond embodiment of the security seal according to the presentinvention;

[0024]FIG. 9 is a lower perspective view of the seal illustrated in FIG.8; and

[0025]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the seal of FIGS. 8 and 9, at theinstant of closure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a one-liecesecurity seal 1 in the form of a presently preferred embodiment of thisinvention, comprises a single part moulded in plastics material. Theseal is constituted of a central operating portion 2 having a first end3 integral with a closure strap 4, and a second end 5 integral with alever member 6.

[0027] The closure strap has pointed free end and, along its length, aseries of equally interspaced identical rectangular orifices 7. Theoperating portion 2 has a generally planar outer side and an inner sideformed with two flanges 8 that are perpendicular to the remaining partof portion 2 and parallel to each other. Flanges 8 are identical andeach has a concave edge 9 facing the closure strap and formed withretaining teeth 10. The two concave edges 9 with their teeth 10 define aretaining region together with the neck of a bag or the like when theseal is being used, as will become clear later. The top region offlanges 8, that is to say, the region furthest from the rest of portion2, are joined by two struts 11 a and 11 b, defining a passage throughwhich the free end 12 of closure strap 4 can be inserted, so as to forma loop essentially comprised by a length of strap 4 and the retainingregion of operating portion 2 of the seal. Lever member 6 is joined tothe second end 5 of the operating portion 2 by means of a weakened orhinge line 13 so that it can be folded outwardly over portion 2. At acertain distance from hinge line 13, the lever member has an opening 14through which the closure strap 4 can be passed. On the outer side ofthe lever member and slightly more distant from the hinge line, there isa small tooth 15 facing away from the operating portion 2. In this way,on forming the loop with the closure strap 4, end 12 of strap 4 may beintroduced through opening 14 and pulled so as to tighten the looparound the neck of a bag or other article to be sealed, and then tooth15 may pass through one of the rectangular orifices 7 in the strap so asto determine the length of the loop.

[0028] Near the free end of lever member 6, on its outer side, there isa small locking tooth 17 having a weakened base 17 that joins the tooth16 to member 6. This base 17 is dimensioned so that, when it is broken,it leaves an opening substantially equal to the cross section of thetooth.

[0029] The distance between tooth 15 and tooth 16 is a multiple of thedistance between orifices 7 in the closure strap 4, so that the toothcan pass through one of those orifices when seal 1 is closed.

[0030] There are two slots 18 on each side of locking tooth 16, thepurpose of which will be described later.

[0031] Operating portion 2 is provided with a locking cavity 19 formedwith a protuberance on its upper or outer side, serving to receive thelocking tooth 16 and thus ffect locking of seal 1 when the lever member6 is totally folded outwardly and backwardly and squeezed againstportion 2.

[0032] There are also two accessories on the operating portion 2. On oneside of portion 2, near end 3, a short thread 20 provided with a smallpin 21 that can be fitted into a small corresponding orifice 22 inportion 2 at its free end, serves to attach an address label or the liketo seal 1.

[0033] On the same side of portion 2, a second accessory is in the formof an identification plate 23, joined to portion 2 by means of a line ofweakening. This plate carries an identification or personalisation ofseal 1 by means of a individualised number, both in Arabic numerals andin bar code.

[0034] Finally, operating portion 2 of the a seal is provided externallyand adjacent its first end 3, with a protuberance in the form of anelastic tooth 24, the purpose of which will later become clear.

[0035]FIG. 3 shows the seal at the moment of closure. End 12 of closurestrap 4 has already been inserted through the passage formed between thestruts 11 a and 11 b and threaded through opening 14 in lever member 6.End 12 was then pulled to tighten the loop 25 formed around the neck ofa bag (not shown for clarity), after which tooth 15 was fitted throughone of the orifices 7 in the strap, thus determining the length of strap4 to be used in closure of the neck of the bag, with a first manualtension. With the remaining part of strap 4 laid along the external sideof lever member 6, this latter was then folded outwardly and backwardlyover operating portion 2, so that the configuration shown in FIG. 3could be assumed. As this operation was carried out, the thickness oflever 6 created a small lever arm with respect to hinge line 13,producing a final tightening of loop 25, ensuring in this mannerconsiderable tightening of the neck of the bag being closed.

[0036] Starting from the configuration of FIG. 3, lever member 6 ispressed against operating portion 2 so that locking tooth 16 can entercavity 19 where it becomes locked in place, sealing seal 1. At thisinstant the elastic tooth 24 passes through one of the orifices 7 inclosure strap 4, hooking itself onto one of the edges of that orifice.In this way the seal is closed and the bag sealed with a sealpersonalised with the number on identification plate 23.

[0037] When the bag reaches its destination and opening is authorised,it is sufficient to pull the free end of closure strap 4 away from thebag for base 17 of locking tooth 16 to break, for the tooth to fall andthe lever member, as already mentioned, to be left with an openinghaving the dimensions of the fallen tooth.

[0038] Notwithstanding the fact that the sealing system has already beenbroken, seal 1—according to one aspect of the invention—can still beused on further occasions, either as a seal or as a simple closuredevice without any security characteristics. Firstly, the identificationplate 23 may be removed by tearing it off along the line of weakening.The device may then be applied to another bag and closed, with anydegree of security, thanks to the closure that is assured by elastictooth 24 that receives the end of lever member 6.

[0039] Alternatively, seal I may be re-used as a security seal using thesmall special seal 26 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown in thosefigures, special seal 26 comprises a plate 27 having dimensionssubstantially identical to those of the outer side of lever member 6. Onthe outside of plate 27, there is an identification number similar tothat of plate 23 that was removed after the first use of seal 1. Oncemore, this number is unique and serves to personalise the combinationformed by seals 1 and 26.

[0040] On the inner or underside of plate 27, there is a locking tooth28 identical to tooth 16, that also has a breakable base. Near tooth 28there is a pair of positioning bosses 29 and, longitudinally spacedtherefrom, a pair of elastic hooks 30. On closure of seal 1 in themanner described above with the engagement of the end of lever member 6on elastic hook 24, the special seal 26 may be applied with lockingtooth 28 entering cavity 19 in portion 2, through the opening left inlever member 6 by the breakage of tooth 16 when the seal was firstopened. The positioning bosses 29 will enter the two slots 18 and theelastic hooks 30 will pressure fit into one of the orifices 7 in theclosure strap 4, all as illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0041]FIG. 7 shows the final configuration of seal 1 when sealed in itsclosed position by application of special seal 26.

[0042] It will, be understood that seal 1 of the present invention is anextremely versatile device because:

[0043] for its first use it is a one-piece security seal, that is tosay, it may be closed and sealed as a single part without any thread orcord to close the bag or, furthermore, any separate element at all toeffect sealing;

[0044] for later uses, it can be used again as a security seal by usinga second seal of very simple manufacture and reduced cost; and

[0045] for later uses, it can also be used as a simple pull-tight tiedevice without any security characteristics.

[0046] Apart from this, seal 1 is extremely easy and practical to apply.The passage defined between struts 11 a and 11 b greatly facilitatesformation of the loop around the neck of the bag to be closed. The factthat the closure strap 4 then passes through an opening in the levermember 6 where, after an initial manual tightening, it is caught ontohook 15, also facilitates handling of the seal during its application.Handling is further facilitated by the fact that closure strap 4 issmooth, there being no unnecessary protuberances for fixing it onclosure of the device, as ocurred in the prior art.

[0047] In addition, the lever arm defined by the configuration asdescribed permits the user to apply an excellent final tightening onfolding lever member 6 outwardly and backwardly in preparation forclosure of the seal.

[0048] Finally, the use of tooth 16 with its weakened base 17 promotes avery simple manual opening of the seal, and thus of the bag, without theuse of special tools or scissors and consequently without any risk ofdamaging the bag.

[0049] These and other advantages will be apparent to a person versed inthe art.

[0050]FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show a second embodiment of the seal accordingto the present invention. This seal differs from that described abovedue to the fact that it is truly throw-away in that it really can beused just once. However, it is extremely simple to apply, extremelyefficient and even easier to open with destruction of the seal.

[0051] The seal of FIGS. 8 to 10 is very similar to that of FIGS. 1 to 3and therefore, to facilitate understanding, the reference numbers differonly where there are differences in the configuration. Only thedifferences will now be described.

[0052] Referring now to FIGS. 8 to 10, seal 1′ has a closure strap 4′that extends, not from the first end 3 of the operating portion, butrather from an approximately central region thereof, on the underside,adjacent flanges 8. Closure strap 4′ may be manufactured as a separatepart, being fitted into the region between flanges 8. The advantage ofthis configuration is that, when the neck of the bag or sack is of smalldiameter, the loop formed has a shorter straight part under operatingportion 2, compared with seal 1 of FIGS. 1 to 3. This permits a tighterand more efficient closure.

[0053] Another important difference is that the end part 31′ of levermember 6′, distant from operating part 2, has a transverse w akening 32that allows it to be torn off from the rest of the lever member, thealready mentioned locking formation or security tooth 16′ being joinedto end 31 by means of a weakened base 33.

[0054] At the same time, the accessory or identification plate 23 ofseal 1 of FIGS. 1 to 3 is substituted by an identification plate 23′that is strongly joined at 34 to end part 31 and joined laterally to therest of lever member 6′ by means of a weakening line 35.

[0055]FIG. 10 shows the seal 1′ in the closed configuration. To open theseal, it is sufficient to hold the free end of plate 23′ and pull itstrongly upwards and to the left (in the drawing), breaking weakeningline 35, separating the plate from the lever member 6′ and then breakingthe transverse weakening 32. This removes entirely the end part 31′ oflever member 6′ and, at the same time, breaks weakened base 33 ofsecurity tooth 16′. Tooth 16′, thus separated from part 31′ stays lockedin cavity 19 in operating portion 2. The seal is thus destroyed andcannot be re-utilised. Opening of the seal is extremely simple and, onceopen, the seal is destroyed to an extent that it cannot be re-usedillicitly.

[0056] It is to be understood that seal I and special seal 26 representthe invention in its presently preferred form. However, the inventionshould not be limited to the combination of all their characteristics asdescribed and illustrated in the drawings or even to their equivalents,but rather to the aspects specifically defined in the claims.

1. Pull-tight one-piece security seal, adapted for closing bags or thelike, comprising: an operating portion (2) having a first end (3) and asecond end (5), and, between said ends, a contact region (9, 10) adaptedfor contacting a neck region of a bag; a closure strap (4) united at afirst end to the operating portion, which extends away from the firstend of the operating portion (2) to a second free end (12), it beingprovided along its length with fixing formations (7) that permit it tobe immobilised in relation to the operating portion when it is passedaround the neck of the bag to form a loop (25) and the seal is closed;and a lever member (6) extending from and integral with the second endof the operating portion, which is foldable over the operating portion(2), on an opposite side of the latter in relation to the said contactregion (9, 10), the lever member (6) having a security locking formation(16) for co-operation with a corresponding security locking formation(19) on the operating portion when the seal is closed, the lever memberfurther having an opening (14) for passage of the closure strap and animmobilising formation (15) for co-operating with one of the fixingformations on the closure strap (40 to determine the length of the saidloop (25) when the seal is closed; characterised in that: the closurestrap (4) is substantially flat; the fixing formations on the closurestrap comprise a series of orifices (7) distributed along the strap (4);and the immobilising formation on the lever member (6) comprises a firstprotuberance (15) adapted, on formation of the loop (25), to be receivedin one of said orifices (7).
 2. Seal according to claim 1, characterisedin that the region of contact with the neck of a bag, on the operatingportion (2), defines a passage (11 a, 11 b) through which the closurestrip is passed in forming the loop (25).
 3. Seal according to claim 1or 2, characterised in that the said protuberance is in the form of atooth (15) which, when the loop is formed, passes through said orifice(7).
 4. Seal according to claim 1, 2 or 3, charact rised in that thesecurity locking formation on the lever member comprises a secondprotuberance in the form of a locking tooth (16), adapted to passthrough another of said orifices (7) in the closure strap (4), and thatthe corresponding locking formation on the operating portion comprises acavity (19) adapted to receive said locking tooth (16) in lockingrelation when the seal is closed.
 5. Seal according to any one of claims1 to 4, characterised in that the said first end of the closure strap(4′) is joined to the operating portion (2) at a middle region of thelatter, adjacent said contact region (9, 10).
 6. Seal according to claim4 or 5, characterised in that the said locking tooth (16) has a base(17) fixing it to the lever member (6) which is weakened so as to breakon intentional opening of the seal, leaving a corresponding opening inthe lever member.
 7. Seal according to claim 6, characterised in that itis combined with a separate security seal (26) for sealing the one-pieceseal (1) during uses subsequent to the first use, when the said lockingtooth (16) on the lever member (6) is broken, the separate security seal(26) comprising a plate (27) to be placed over the lever member (6) whenthe one-piece security seal (1) is in a closed configuration forsubsequent uses, and a protuberance in the form of a locking tooth (28)substantially identical to the locking tooth (16) that was broken, thelocking tooth (28) on the separate security seal (26) also having aweakened base that can be broken on subsequent opening of the one-pieceseal (1).
 8. Seal according to claim 7, characterised in that the levermember (6) so that, in the closed position of the one-piece seal, itleaves at least one other of the orifices (7) in the closure strap (4)exposed and the separate security seal (26) further has a locking means(30) which, when it is applied to seal the one-piece seal in asubsequent use, passes through said one other of the orifices (7) andelastically fixes the separate seal (26) to the one-piece seal (1) at apoint remote from its locking tooth (28).
 9. Seal according to any oneof claims 5 to 8, characterised in that the said operating portion (2),adjacent said first end (3), has an elastic tooth (24) adapted, in theclosed configuration of the one-piece seal (1), to pass through one ofthe orifices (7) in the closure strap and to catch itself therein so asto maintain the seal closed, the one-piece seal then being usable as asimple closure device without any security characteristics once thelocking tooth (16) on the lever member has been broken.
 10. Sealaccording to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the nd(31′) of the lever member (6′) that is remote from the operating portion(2) has a weakening (32) that allows it to be tom off from the rest ofthe lever member, the said security locking formation (16′) being joinedto said end (31′) by means of a weakened joint (33).
 11. Seal accordingto claim 10, characterised in that the said end (31′) of the levermember (6′) is integral with a tab (23′) removably attached to the restof the lever member (6′).